Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth series in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's true crime franchise, is now available on Netflix. The show tackles the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts, focusing on Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, who was tried and acquitted for the crimes. Showrunner Ian Brennan wrote all eight episodes, inventing much of the narrative to explore what he calls "a legacy of female rage."
The series interweaves the story of Lizzie Borden with that of two other infamous women: Countess Elizabeth Báthory and serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a choice the review posits as an attempt to broadly assert that women have "always had it bad." This approach is described as lacking depth and often feeling like a "virtue-signaling social media post."
Unlike a traditional whodunit, Monster reveals Lizzie's guilt from the outset, framing the narrative as a "whydunit." The show begins with a rapid-fire, theatrical tone in its early episodes, directed by Max Winkler, which contrasts with the more measured approach of directors Sarah Adina Smith, whose episodes are considered stronger. This tonal inconsistency may challenge viewers accustomed to binge-watching.
Rebecca Hall and Charlie Hunnam, playing the murder victims Abby and Andrew Borden, deliver over-the-top performances that initially paint the victims as unsympathetic. Later episodes humanize Abby and Andrew, prompting mixed feelings about Lizzie's actions, which the show suggests were aided by her housemaid and lover, Maggie Sullivan, portrayed by Vicky Krieps. The review notes that while the show implies a romantic relationship between Lizzie and Maggie, there is no historical evidence to support this.
Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie Borden, whose character evolves from timid to cunning. Krieps, as Maggie, is noted for her performance but also for anachronisms in her portrayal, such as purple hair in the 1890s, which the review suggests detracts from the period setting. The series is criticized for straining to impose a modern overlay on its historical narrative.
The segments featuring Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos are highlighted as a point where the series better grasps its themes of female rage, though Paulson's performance occasionally borders on comedic. The review suggests that the season might have been stronger as a standalone story about Wuornos, or that a more focused narrative on Lizzie Borden could have benefited from a consistent tone.
Ultimately, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is described as too scattershot and tonally inconsistent. While it contains entertaining and emotional moments, and features some fine performances, the series fails to commit to a clear message or consistent style in its exploration of female rage and historical trauma.